Front structure of saddle-ride type vehicle

Abstract

In a motorcycle including grips provided at lateral ends of a steering handlebar to be grasped by an occupant, and a brake lever and a clutch lever provided forward of the steering handlebar, lever guards are provided at the lateral ends of the steering handlebar and extend forward to protect the brake lever and the clutch lever. Mirror bodies are attached to front portions of the lever guards.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A front structure of a saddle-ride vehicle, comprising:
 a grip provided at a distal end of a steering handlebar; 
 a lever provided forward of the steering handlebar, a distal end of the lever being spaced from the grip in a forward direction by a first distance; 
 a lever guard operatively mounted at the distal end of the steering handlebar having a front arm extending in the forward direction from the steering handlebar, the front arm having a length in the first direction greater than the first distance and an inner arm extending horizontally inwardly from a distal end of the front arm passed the distal end of the lever so that the lever is between the grip and inner arm, the inner arm having a length less than the length of the front arm; 
 a mirror stay having an upper end and a lower end attached to a distal end of the inner arm, the mirror stay extending vertically from the inner arm; and 
 a mirror body attached to the upper end of the mirror stay, the mirror body having a mirror, the mirror facing rearwardly, 
 wherein the grip, front arm and inner arm form a U-shaped assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the distal end of the steering handlebar and the lever guard are fastened in a first connection; 
 the lever guard and the mirror stay are fastened in a second connection; 
 the upper end of the mirror stay and the mirror body are rotatably fastened in a third connection; and 
 as viewed in a side view of the vehicle, the second connection is placed forward of a front end of the lever. 
 
     
     
       3. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein the first connection is fastened to the distal end of the steering handlebar with a first fastening member for insertion of a rear end portion of the lever guard from outside toward inside in a vehicle-width direction. 
     
     
       4. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first connection has a collar having a slit and inserted into the steering handlebar, and a nut of a tapered shape engaged with the collar; and 
 when the first fastening member is tightened to the nut, the slit is opened up by a tractive force produced by the first fastening member to be pressed against an inner wall of the steering handlebar, so that the first connection is positioned in the steering handlebar. 
 
     
     
       5. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 a recess is provided on one of the distal end of the steering handlebar and the collar, while a protrusion is provided on the other of the distal end of the steering handlebar and the collar; and 
 the recess and the protrusion are engaged with each other to block rotation of the lever guard relative to the steering handlebar. 
 
     
     
       6. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein the second connection is fastened by a second fastening member inserted rearward from the front in a forward and rearward direction, with the lower end of the mirror stay that is placed to a front end portion of the lever guard. 
     
     
       7. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein the third connection is rotatably fastened by a third fastening member with a lower end of the mirror body that is inserted into the upper end of the mirror stay, and also the mirror body is rotatably supported by the mirror stay. 
     
     
       8. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein, as viewed in a side view of the vehicle, the lever guard and the mirror stay have a downward protruded arc shape. 
     
     
       9. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein, as viewed in a side view of the vehicle, the lever guard and the mirror stay have a downward protruded arc shape. 
     
     
       10. A front structure of a saddle-ride vehicle, comprising:
 a grip adapted to be mounted on a distal end of a steering handlebar; 
 a lever adapted to be mounted on the steering handlebar; 
 a lever guard operatively mounted at the distal end of the steering handlebar having a front arm extending in a forward direction from the steering handle bar and an inner arm extending horizontally inwardly from a distal end of the front arm, the inner arm having a length less than a length of the front arm; 
 a mirror stay having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the mirror stay being attached to a distal end of the inner arm, the mirror stay extending vertically and perpendicular to the inner arm; 
 a mirror body attached to the upper end of the mirror stay, the mirror body having a bottom edge, the bottom edge being above the inner arm and grip; and 
 a mirror on the mirror body, the mirror facing rearwardly, 
 wherein the grip, front arm and inner arm form a U-shaped assembly. 
 
     
     
       11. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the distal end of the steering handlebar and the lever guard are fastened in a first connection; 
 the lever guard and the mirror stay are fastened in a second connection; 
 the upper end of the mirror stay and the mirror body are rotatably fastened in a third connection; and 
 as viewed in a side view of the vehicle, the second connection is placed forward of either a front end of the lever. 
 
     
     
       12. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein the first connection is fastened to the distal end of the steering handlebar with a first fastening member for insertion of a rear end portion of the lever guard from outside toward inside in a vehicle-width direction. 
     
     
       13. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the mirror stay has a horizontal arm overlapping and attached to the inner arm of the lever guard and a vertical arm pivotally attached to the horizontal arm. 
     
     
       14. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein the horizontal arm has a notch forming a section having a reduced thickness in the forward direction and a shoulder, and
 wherein the distal end of the inner arm fits within the notch to overlap the horizontal arm and be proximate the shoulder. 
 
     
     
       15. A front structure of a saddle-ride vehicle, comprising:
 a grip provided at a distal end of a steering handlebar; 
 a lever provided forward of the steering handlebar; 
 a lever guard operatively mounted at the distal end of the steering handlebar having a front arm extending in a forward direction from the steering handlebar and an inner arm extending inwardly from a distal end of the front arm; 
 a lower end of a mirror stay attached to a distal end of the inner arm; and 
 a mirror body attached to an upper end of the mirror stay, 
 wherein the mirror stay has a horizontal arm overlapping and attached to the inner arm of the lever guard and a vertical arm pivotally attached at a junction to the horizontal arm about a horizontal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the horizontal arm, the vertical arm being perpendicular to the horizontal arm at the junction, 
 wherein a fastener extends through the horizontal arm and inner arm in the forward direction, and 
 wherein the grip, front arm and inner arm form a U-shaped assembly. 
 
     
     
       16. The front structure of the saddle-ride vehicle according to  claim 15 , wherein the horizontal arm has a notch forming a section having a reduced thickness in the forward direction and a shoulder, and
 wherein the distal end of the inner arm fits within the notch to overlap the horizontal arm and be proximate the shoulder.